"Great job, that was a good time."
"Thanks, Otto."
Corona took a towel and a drink from one of Nove's sisters, Otto.
Corona and Einhart had both smoothly advanced in their matches today. The two, who were in the same block, were finally going to face off in an official match tomorrow.
"Let's wrap it up. Tomorrow's the big day."
"Yeah, you're right."
They cleaned up and headed home.
"Hey, Otto."
"Yes?"
"Do you think I can beat Einhart-san?"
"Of course..."
Otto hesitated for a moment.
Among Vivio and the others, Corona was the smartest. You could even say she was the most mature. This wasn't a time for half-hearted consolation. But it would be difficult to give vague answers, too.
"I know. I'm just a normal fourth-grader. I can just use a slightly unusual kind of magic."
That was something Corona had always held in her heart.
"Einhart-san has talent, strength, and techniques inherited from her ancestors. She's still working hard every day. There's no way I can win in a normal fight, right?"
"...Yes."
After being told that, Otto had no choice but to nod.
"But still..."
There was a continuation to her words.
"Everyone tells me I have magic that only I can use. Otto and Master Nove are making me stronger. And I have Bransel, who Rū-chan made for me."
She was standing here today, supported by so many people.
So,
"So I'm going to win."
She declared this with an expression of certain confidence.
"I'll win the next match—!"
"...Yes!"
"For that, I want to try a secret move. Is Master Nove free?"
When Otto contacted her, Nove immediately flew over.
Corona wasted no time in demonstrating her secret move.
"...Oh, wow."
"This is..."
Its power was more than they had expected.
"That was just for a moment, but if I don't think about the consequences, I can do more."
"I don't remember teaching you a technique like that! It puts too much strain on your body!"
"It's just an application of my golem manipulation. It's an extension of the techniques you taught me... I have to do this much to fight Einhart-san."
Nove understood what Corona was trying to say.
"But as your coach, I can't condone a dangerous move like this."
"I'll handle it well."
Nove warned her with genuine concern, but Corona's attitude didn't change.
"You really..."
"I know my abilities are inferior on Team Nakajima."
"..."
Nove and Otto, who were her coaches, understood that more than anyone.
The gap wasn't that big yet, but if they continued with Strike Arts, an unbridgeable difference would emerge.
"I don't want everyone to feel like they have to tiptoe around me. I don't want to disappoint anyone. I love everyone so much, so at least in this tournament, I want to stand on the same level as them."
Knowing her limits in Strike Arts, she had independently developed her specialty in golem creation. It was a choice born from her intelligence.
"But you know that doesn't mean you can just use a dangerous move like the one you just used, right?"
"Ow..."
"(...Sigh, I'm too soft.) Fine. We're extending practice time. We'll perfect that move until the last minute. Win against Einhart in your own way!"
"!! Thank you so much!!"
They practiced until the very last minute, completing their preparations for the match in the best possible condition.
Clink, clink
---------
"Haa, haa...!"
"You're doing well, Einhart."
"Y-Yes...!"
She nodded, her face dripping with sweat.
It was past 8:00 PM. Considering they had a match tomorrow, they shouldn't have been doing this, but it was at Einhart's request.
She had asked him to help her train for a secret move that no one could see.
"It feels a little like cheating, though."
"A little."
He handed Einhart one of the items he had obtained in a recent incident. He felt it was a better "fit" for her than for him in many ways.
However, the fact that she had mastered it at this critical moment was undoubtedly the fruit of Einhart's efforts.
Besides, since he was largely responsible for why Einhart couldn't focus on her training, this much help was acceptable.
And he wouldn't be able to go see her match tomorrow as usual.
He felt bad for Corona, but...
"Go and win, Einhart. Show them the Haoh Style... No—show them the Dimensional Haoh Style."
"Yes—!"
Clink, clink
---------
"Alright, next match! Both of these competitors are making their debut, but no one underestimates these two rookies anymore!"
The excitement in the venue was at the level you'd expect for the entrance of top-tier athletes. It was a highly anticipated match.
"From the red corner, Golem Meister, Corona Timil! In her matches so far, once her golem is complete, she's shown an overwhelming strength that no one can get close to!"
Corona entered the ring.
"And from the blue corner, Ancient Martial Artist, Einhart Stratos! She's been virtually unharmed in all her matches so far, ending them in less than a minute!"
Einhart entered the ring.
"And the two are teammates who train together! A fated confrontation is about to begin!"
The two faced each other.
"Okay then, Einhart, Tio, do your best!"
"Don't let your guard down!"
"Yes!"
Einhart was encouraged by her seconds, Dieci and Wendy.
"Make sure you find the right moment to use that!"
"Lady, may fortune be with you!"
"Mm. Thank you, Otto."
Corona was encouraged by Nove and Otto.
The gong sounded, signaling the start.
The one who moved at that moment was Einhart.
"(Stop her with Kūhadan... Huh!?) "
Einhart had assumed Corona would create distance to create Goliath. That's why she chose Kūhadan, which sends a shockwave from her fist.
But she was wrong.
"I've combined the martial arts I practiced with everyone with my golem creation!"
The material of the ring was reconfigured and gathered in Corona's right hand. It was a quick creation, achieved by focusing on a single part and sacrificing durability.
Faster than Einhart's attack, the right hand of Goliath was attached to Corona's right arm.
"This is my! Creation Martial Art, My Arts!!"
The massive fist of Goliath attacked Einhart.
"Kuh...!"
Einhart hurriedly defended.
"I've been thrown off balance...! She's entering golem creation—!!"
"Creation activation—!!"
Core crystals scattered, and a magic circle appeared at Corona's feet.
"In the name of Creator Corona and the Device Bransel!"
"Not on my watch!!"
Einhart recovered and attacked to interrupt her.
Corona, concentrating on her chant, could only focus on defending.
"The attacks don't stop! Corona is completely on the defensive! Her life is being whittled away before our eyes!! Can she hold out until the golem is completed!!"
Einhart's martial arts skills were overwhelmingly superior. Even on defense, a single strike would take away 5% of Corona's life.
But Corona was not losing. She had trained for this. She was defending almost perfectly against Einhart.
The chant was almost complete.
"This will decide it!!"
Einhart's all-out attack—but it wasn't enough to drain Corona's life.
"Smash and crush, Goliath!!"
A shadow was cast over Einhart. It was the shadow of Goliath that had appeared behind her.
"What—!?"
Its raised fist, from the elbow forward, was rotating to increase its power.
Feeling a sense of danger, Einhart tried to escape, but was a beat too late due to a lock bind that wrapped around her feet.
"Gigant Knuckle!!"
The hammer-like fist came down on the immobile Einhart.
"It's a direct hit!!"
"YESSSSS!!"
The commentator, seconds, and even the crowd all cheered as one.
"Corona succeeds in creating her golem!! And a minute has already passed!! Einhart's record of quick wins has been broken!!"
The referee checked with Einhart, who was undergoing a crash simulation of full-body contusions, to see if she could continue the match.
"Of course, I can."
For both of them, the real fight was starting now.
Corona climbed onto the golem's shoulder, and Einhart looked up at her.
The match resumed.
There was an absolute difference in offensive power. Even Einhart would have a hard time fighting Goliath head-on. That's why she had tried to end it quickly.
But since it had come to this, there was no other choice. She knew what she had to do.
"Goliath, Grind Gazer!!"
"—!!"
Corona, on the shoulder, gave the command.
With a roar like a rock-grinding excavator, Goliath unleashed a kick that swept everything in front of it. Its speed was faster than in a land battle match.
However, it wasn't unavoidable.
As Einhart jumped to avoid it, Goliath's fist closed in.
Going with the momentum, she landed by rolling off the back of its hand.
"!!"
She accelerated in an instant.
If she could just get close, it was her game. Concentrating her magic, she unleashed the technique that had failed earlier.
"Kūhadan!!"
"Kuh... ugh...!"
Taking the shockwave, Corona fell from Goliath's shoulder.
"Tio, I need your strength."
A magic circle was created at Einhart's feet.
Before Goliath could flail and shake her off, Einhart's fist came down.
"Haoh Style—Siege Hammer!!"
This was a technique her ancestors had used long ago to destroy the walls of enemy castles. Cracks spread from her fist, and eventually, the golem shattered into pieces.
"E-Einhart shatters the golem in an instant! And the fallen Corona's life is in the danger zone!"
Corona was ruled to be down.
Einhart followed the instructions and returned to her neutral corner.
"Nove! Lady Corona—!"
"Don't panic! It's not over!!"
As if she heard those words, Corona got up and returned to the ring.
"It's true that she doesn't have any outstanding fighting talent. But she has a mind that doesn't collapse even in a pinch. And she has the intelligence to calmly formulate a strategy."
"And, there's that too."
"Exactly. She has a trump card she's been building up for this moment."
Einhart remained cautious, bracing herself as Corona's steps were unsteady.
"(One and a half minutes left. If she recovers during the interval, anything could happen. Corona doesn't have a counter like Vivio does. I'll overwhelm her with close-quarters combat!)"
"Einhart charges at the still-standing Corona!! Will the match be decided right here—!!"
Corona was indeed standing still, but she wasn't unprepared for the attack.
"(I remember being so surprised when I found out Vivio was a martial artist after we became friends.)"
She was about to enter the range. She closed her eyes, preparing for the impact she knew was coming.
"(I wanted to be with everyone, so I started practicing together. I don't love fighting or hate it, but I felt like if I stopped, I wouldn't be able to stay with them.)"
And that's how she met Rio, Kuro, and Einhart.
"(There were so many times when I thought of quitting because I couldn't do things as well as everyone else, but during those times, Master Nove encouraged me and guided me.)"
To be honest, she knew martial arts wasn't for her.
Even so,
"(Just for a little longer, so I can walk with everyone at the same level, I'll use it no matter how much it hurts!!)"
An pressure unrelated to her will was placed on Corona's right arm. She didn't resist the crushing pressure on her right arm and gave herself over to it.
"Nephilim Fist!!"
A powerful uppercut struck Einhart's jaw.
As if it were a pre-programmed form, Corona's body moved on to the next attack.
Einhart, who had been confident there would be no counterattack, was now in a crash simulation of a concussion.
A clean roundhouse kick landed on the defenseless Einhart.
"A tremendous counterattack! Did Einhart get too hasty for victory! We're at a 10-count!"
Einhart remained on the ground, not moving. If she didn't regain consciousness, Corona would win.
Vivio and the others, waiting in the locker room for their match, were also watching this series of events.
The thought that crossed their minds about Corona was not that it was amazing for her to land a hit on Einhart in close quarters, but...
"That was Vivio's Accel Smash and Revolver Spike, wasn't it...?"
"Yeah, it looked like it..."
It was a question about the perfect imitation. It was too well done to be a mere copy.
"(The Nephilim Fist worked well. I hope this decides it...!)"
Corona thought this, enduring the pain in her body, but Einhart got up just before the count ended.
"She's up! Einhart is up! 15 seconds left in Round 1! Both of their lives are in the danger zone! Will it be decided right here!?"
"(I didn't think Corona would counterattack. I underestimated her. I can't let it end like this—)"
"(15 seconds left. There's no time to create. I'll overwhelm her with the Nephilim Fist!)"
They both moved forward.
The two exchanged fierce blows, a stark contrast to the defense Corona had put up during her golem creation. Einhart was astonished to see Corona continue to dodge her fists with just a sliver of space.
"!"
Parrying a weak blow, Corona stepped forward.
"Nephilim Fist, Tiger Cannon!!"
A powerful palm strike with both hands was unleashed towards Einhart's stomach. It was blocked by a left hand that just barely slid in, and her life wasn't completely drained.
"And the gong sounds! Einhart just barely held on to her life!"
Both were out of breath, but the fight was on hold for a minute as the interval began.
Though it wasn't the form they had expected, the venue was eager for the match to resume due to the intense battle.
However, those who knew the situation were gaining a certain conviction.
That included Team Nakajima in the locker room.
"That last move was my Tiger Cannon."
"Yeah. As I thought, Corona's move..."
Einhart, who had been fighting, understood it too.
"Automated body control?"
"Yes. She's controlling her own body the same way she would a golem."
She explained to Wendy.
"If she's applying the same magic she uses to control a giant golem, then it becomes the fist of a giant."
However, this also put a huge strain on her body.
To achieve a speed that Einhart couldn't react to, she had to move her body at a speed that exceeded her original power.
"If she sets a pre-programmed action for a specific attack as a counter..."
"It's an auto-counter with zero reaction time..."
"From the looks of it, it seems she's using it for attacks as well. What's the plan...?"
"I have one. 'I remembered.' Besides, I have a trump card too."
"A trump card...?"
Dieci and Wendy, who hadn't heard anything about this, tilted their heads.
"I'll use it in the next round."
There was no time to explain. The next round was about to begin.
Einhart, her damage healed by Tio's efforts, climbed back into the ring.
It was the same for Corona. Her damage healed, she returned to the ring.
"The Nephilim Fist is stable, huh."
"Yes. I'll be aggressive with my martial arts this round!"
"...Yeah, go get 'em!"
The gong for the next round sounded.
--------------------------------------------
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